Sermon Cloud

Today, we are going to . . .

1. Expose some of the excuses we hide behind when we feel unqualified to do the work of the ministry
2. Explore some of the reasons why we feel unqualified
3. Examine how the Lord responds to those who feel unqualified  

"I don't have any experience . . . "

Gideon's Excuse: "And he said to Him, ‘O Lord, how shall I deliver Israel?  Behold, my family is the least in Manasseh, and I am the youngest in my father's house.'" (Judges 6:15)

"I don't have anything to offer . . . "

Moses' Excuse:
"But Moses said to God, ‘Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the sons of Israel out of Egypt?'" (Exodus 3:11)
"Then Moses answered and said, ‘What if they will not believe me, or listen to what I say?  For they may say, ‘The Lord has not appeared to you.'" (Exodus 4:1)
"Then Moses said to the Lord, ‘Please, Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither recently nor in time past, nor since Thou hast spoken to Thy servant; for I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.'" (Exodus 4:10)
"I've made too many mistakes . . ."
Peter's Excuse: "But when Simon Peter saw that, he fell down at Jesus' feet, saying, ‘Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!'" (Luke 5:8)

"I'm only one person . . . "

Elijah's Excuse
"Then Elijah said to the people, ‘I alone am left a prophet of the Lord, but Baal's prophets are 450 men.'" (1 Kings 18:22)
"And he said, ‘I have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts; for the sons of Israel have forsaken Thy covenant, torn down Thine altars and killed Thy prophets with the sword.  And I alone am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.'" (1 Kings 19:10)

"I'm terrified . . . "

Esther's Excuse: "'All the king's servants and the people of the king's provinces know that for any man or woman who comes tot eh king to the inner court who is not summoned, he has but one law, that he be put to death, unless the king holds out to him the golden scepter so that he may live.  And I have not been summoned to come to the king for these thirty days." (Esther 4:11)

The Lord's response to those who feel unqualified . . .

To Moses: "And He said, ‘Certainly I will be with you' . . . And the Lord said to him, ‘Who has made man's mouth?  Or who makes him dumb or deaf, or seeing or blind?  Is it not I, the Lord?  Now then go, and I, even I, will be with your mouth and teach you what you are to say.'" (Exodus 3:12; 4:11-12)

To Joshua: "Moses My servant is dead; now therefore arise, cross this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them, to the sons of Israel.  Every place on which the sole of your foot treads, I have given it to you, just as I spoke to Moses . . . No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life.  Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you.  Be strong and courageous, for you shall give this people possession of the land which I swore to their fathers to give them.  Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go.  This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success." (Joshua 1:2-3, 5-8)

To Jeremiah: "Then I said, ‘Alas, Lord God!  Behold, I do not know how to speak, because I am a youth.'  But the Lord said to me, ‘Do not say, ‘I am a youth,' because everywhere I send you, you shall go, and all that I command you, you shall speak.  Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you,' declares the Lord.  Then the Lord stretched out His hand and touched my mouth, and the Lord said to me, ‘Behold, I have put My words in your mouth . . . ‘" (Jeremiah 1:6-9)

To the disciples:
"But when they deliver you up, do not become anxious about how or what you will speak; for it shall be given you in that hour what you are to speak.  For it is not you who speak, but it is the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you . . . And do not fear those who kill the body, but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." (Matthew 10:19-20, 28)
"And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive because it does not behold Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you, and will be in you.  I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you." (John 14:16-18)

Amazingly, the Lord repeats the same 3 things . . .
"I will be with you"
"I will give you the words to speak"
"Do not be afraid"